Oscar-nominated shorts uneven in quality

THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2010 (LIVE-ACTION PROGRAM) — ★★1/2 — Compilation of short works from around the world; with English subtitles (Eastern European, Indian and Swedish dialects); not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, drugs, brief gore, slurs, vulgarity); Tower Theatre

As they have done in previous years, Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures have teamed up to showcase all the narrative short films that are nominated for this year's Academy Awards.

The movies are broken up into two collections — live-action and animated programs — which will be showing for at least a week at the Tower Theatre.

And as always, the quality of the collections is inconsistent, and your enjoyment depends on your sensibilities. That's especially true for the live-action shorts collection.

The Australian drama "Miracle Fish" follows a young bullied boy (Karl Beattie) who wishes everyone around him would go away.

A twist at the end is unexpected, but doesn't really work that well.

"The New Neighbors" actually boasts some recognizable actors. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kevin Corrigan are among those who pester a pair of new apartment tenants (Jamie Harrold and David Rakoff).

The frank language is a bit much, though.

Also, two other selections seem eerily familiar — or if they were derivative of earlier hits.

"Instead of Abracadabra," a Swedish tale about a would-be magician (Simon J. Berger), copies the slacker-doofus vibe of the 2004 comedy smash "Napoleon Dynamite." It's not as aggressively annoying, fortunately.

And "Kavi," a drama about a young, enslaved Indian boy (Sagar Salunke), may remind some of last year's Best Picture winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," in some respects.

But none of the others are as satisfying as "The Door," about a man (Igor Sigov) who sneaks back into his abandoned house to salvage one piece of lumber. It's poignant and effective.

"The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2010 (Live-Action Program)" is not rated but would probably receive an R for violence (gunplay and shootings, bludgeonings, an accidental stabbing and violence against women and children, mostly implied), strong sexual language (profanity, vulgar slang and other suggestive talk), drug content and references (narcotics), some brief gore and blood, derogatory language and slurs, and other off-color humor. Total running time: 94 minutes.

e-mail: jeff@desnews.com